The Best Part About Every Season at Walt Disney World

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World, it can be hard to decide what time of year to go. Every season has pros and cons with seasonal offerings, fun festivals, and savings.

We’re breaking down the best things about every season at Disney to help you decide what time of year is best for you.

Winter

Holiday Events

Starting in November, the parks transform for the holiday season. In Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party offers parades, character meet and greets, and more. It was cancelled in 2020 due to limited park operations, but other holiday offerings took its place. Last year we saw character cavalcades in addition to the annual ride overlays and holiday-themed Cinderella Castle.

Over at EPCOT, the Festival of the Holidays cooks up unique treats from all around the world. There were over 17 Holiday Kitchens in 2020 featuring cuisine from Bavaria, Mexico, France, and more. It’s a must-do for those who are craving a taste of holidays all around the world.

Plus, all of the parks have seasonal snacks inspired by the holidays. Last year, we saw treats like Mickey’s Twice Upon a Cupcake and the Let it Snow Taco.

Disney’s resorts also got in on the fun! They decorate with themed Christmas trees and serve unique holiday treats.

Low Crowds

After peak season for the holidays, crowds typically drop to an all-year low in January and February. Attraction wait times are lower, and the parks feel a lot emptier!

Because it’s the slower season, you’ll also typically see lower resort rates or other special offers. For example, this year, guests can save up to 35% on resort rooms if they book before March 16.

A con of slow season is that park hours are typically shorter. However, you can usually get a lot more done in those hours with smaller crowds.

Check Out These February Wait Times in Disney World!

Spring

Great Weather

Springtime in Orlando brings some amazing weather. Temperatures are mild, ranging from the low 70s to the low 80s. It’s also daylight longer, so your park days will feel more stretched out. That means more time to take that Cinderella Castle photo!

Unfortunately, springtime in Florida brings plenty of lovebugs. They’re everywhere in the parks this time of year and can be a nuisance.

EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

The Flower and Garden Festival is the perfect way to celebrate spring in the fresh air! It usually runs from March to the beginning of June, but will be extended in 2021 to the beginning of July.

The festival features unique eats with nearly 20 outdoor kitchens. There are also beautiful topiaries, mini-gardens, a scavenger hunt, and limited-time festival merchandise.

Check Out All the Food Booths for the 2021 Flower and Garden Festival!

As the weather gets hotter, the days get longer. On to summer!

Summer

Fewer Ride Refurbishments

Disney tends to take advantage of lower crowds in the winter by temporarily closing attractions for refurbishment. This winter, rides like the Mad Tea Party and Swiss Family Treehouse became unavailable to guests. But in the summer, higher crowds mean there’s a good chance most attractions will be up and running.

Water rides also tend to go down in the winter; Kali River Rapids and Splash Mountain are usually refurbished. But in the summer, all those water rides are running and ready to cool you off!

The water parks are also open in the summer, offering another escape from the heat. Although both water parks were closed for almost a year due to the pandemic, Blizzard Beach will reopen on March 7, 2021 — plenty of time before the summer crowds jump in!

Longer Park Hours

Heavier crowds in the summer typically translate to longer park hours. While hours are currently shortened due to limited capacity, we still expect to see them stretch out a bit in the summer.

While hours are also longer during the Halloween and holiday seasons, this is usually due to paid parties like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You don’t have to pay extra to enjoy these extended hours in the summer.

Check Out Blizzard Beach’s Reopening Park Hours!

Although summer can get hot, there are still some benefits to a trip to Disney during these months.

Fall

Halloween

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a fall staple in Disney World. This paid “after-hours” event features a fireworks show, a spooktacular parade, and special character meet-and-greets. The party did not take place in 2020, but celebrations in the parks still included characters in costume, cavalcades, and more.

Decorations include the classic Mickey Mouse pumpkins down Main Street, U.S.A.

There are also some frightful seasonal treats! The parks had pumpkin everything last fall, like the Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Sandwich or Pumpkin Cheesecake Cannoli.

Of course, there were plenty of villainous treats, like the Haunted Mansion-inspired Constance’s for Better or for Worse Wedding Cake.

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

Another seasonal event, the Food and Wine Festival is the original EPCOT festival and a fall must-do. It typically runs from mid-July through mid-November and offers a taste of cuisine from all around the world.

Past festival booths include Hawai’i, Islands of the Caribbean, and Germany. In addition to all the food options, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series offers free concerts to guests.

Check Out All the Menus from Last Year’s Food and Wine Festival!

No matter what time of year you’re visiting Disney, there’s lots to do and plenty of seasonal experiences to enjoy. Hopefully this helped you decide which season is best for you! \